STATE TRACK NOTEBOOK: Central’s Pemble honored; Pine’s Gross gets redemption; Burns’ O’Neal finishes strong; tons more

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Alex Riley

CASPER — Cheyenne Central’s Jasmine Pemble stood on the track listening.

She heard the stories of several other track competitors and the hardships they had gone through. From car wrecks to birth deformities, each had to overcome something to get where they were.

In truth, Pemble was no different. She just felt she was.

“Compared to the other kids, it seems like mine was nothing compared to their’s honestly,” Pemble said. “Mine lasted a month. Most of them have been fighting it their whole life.”

During a break in the action at Saturday’s Wyoming State Track Meet, Pemble was one of several athletes honored with a Profile in Perseverance Award.

Back on February 8, 2012, Pemble suffered a brain aneurysm during the warm-ups of a Lady Indians’ basketball game. She was eventually hospitalized in Denver and had to undergo brain surgery. Continue reading →

The Central and East girls ready to do battle again in state soccer finale

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Jeremiah Johnke

ROCK SPRINGS — The Cheyenne Central and Cheyenne East girls soccer teams have gone head-to-head three times this season. They were three of the most physical soccer matches you’ll ever see.

And not physical because either team was playing dirty. Physical because both teams were competing their collective tails off trying to get a win.

I don’t expect that to be any different in today’s Class 4A state championship.

As one parent said to me, “I feel sorry for the center official that has to do this game. You couldn’t pay me enough to take that on.”

How close were the three previous meetings? They tied 1-1 and 2-2 before East grabbed a 2-0 win in the 4A East Regional.

Both sides expect for of the same today. Continue reading →

STATE TRACK NOTEBOOK: Central jumpers shine; South girls get respect; Ragsdale starts career strong; finals qualifiers

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Alex Riley

CASPER — Talon Bullock got some advice.

Loud advice. Loud advice from the peanut gallery.

“My coach yelled at me, ‘You’re in ninth so jump well,’” Bullock joked.

Cheyenne Central assistant track coach Brad Pickett was hollering at Bullock just before the final jump of the Class 4A boys triple jump.

Bullock was sitting one spot out of medaling and needed to make his final jump count if he wanted to help the Indians score any points.

He did just that.

Bullock’s final jump of 41 feet, 4 1/2 inches was good enough to earn him seventh-place, resulting in two points for the Tribe.

“It means a lot. I got eighth in indoor state in triple jump. To be able to crawl up a little bit is always good,” Bullock said. Continue reading →

STATE TRACK NOTEBOOK: Pine Bluffs’ Morgan keeps soaring to new heights; Central’s Wimbley learns in leap; finals qualifiers

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Alex Riley

CASPER — Every time he took the field this season, Pine Bluffs freshman Wyatt Norman got better.

Thursday was no exception.

At the Wyoming State Track Meet, Norman topped his previous best this season in the pole vault, finishing with a mark of 11 feet, 6 inches. It bested his previous jump of 10 feet, 2 inches and secured a tie for third-place in the 2A boys competition.

Not too bad for a guy who barely cleared 8 feet in the first meet of the season.

“I have no idea at all,” Norman said about his growth this season.

“I was excited for state and got on a new pole last week. That kind of helped me with another six inches on the pole. And also my mind was more in it I guess.” Continue reading →

Burns’ McCart leaps to new heights, builds confidence for state

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Alex Riley

Burns’ Alex McCart cleared 5-foot-2 at the regional meet last weekend. WTE/file

BURNS — Alex McCart didn’t need anyone to tell her she could clear 5-foot-2 in the high jump. The Burns sophomore knew she could.

Actually doing it was a different story.

When McCart got up and over the mark at the Class 2A East Conference Regional Track Meet last weekend, it was a moment of relief.

“At SEWAC, I had really good attempts at 5-2 and it was frustrating to not be able to jump it. But to finally reach it, now it’s off my chest,” McCart said. Continue reading →

Burns’ Berg keeps pushing, finds new levels to compete at

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Alex Riley

Burns’ Wyatt Berg won the 400-meter dahs at the Pine Bluffs Invite in Pine Bluffs on Tuesday. Miranda Grubbs/staff

PINE BLUFFS — Wyatt Berg pulled away.

The next closest guy to him the 400-meter dash at the Pine Bluffs Invitational had no chance of catching up. The Burns standout finished in 53.57 seconds, almost a full second faster than Banner County’s Michael McKown (54.55).

The win was nice but it wasn’t what Berg was aiming for.

“I want to just keep shaving off seconds as we get closer to state because that’s where you want to peak,” he said. Continue reading →

South boys find a new level of confidence after positive weekend

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Alex Riley

Zac West and the Cheyenne South boys soccer team finally got a break through win over Torrington. Shawn Havel/staff

CHEYENNE — It’s a 24-hour stretch that could change a lot for the Cheyenne South boys soccer program.

If nothing else, it was a pair of games that certainly show how far the team has come.

On Friday, the Bison traveled to Laramie for a Class 4A East Conference battle with the Plainsmen. South led 1-0 in the game before Laramie rallied to claim a 3-1 win.

About 15 hours later, the team returned home to face Class 3A Torrington and earned a 3-2 win.

“We’ve grown a lot as a team throughout the season. We’ve had a couple injuries but we’re playing through them,” South defender Abner Gracia said. Continue reading →

South girls make historic scoring splash against Laramie

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Alex Riley

Cheyenne South’s Taylor Landon heads a ball during the team’s 6-1 loss to Laramie on Friday. Shawn Havel/staff

CHEYENNE — Taylor Landon had “a good feeling about that kick.”

The Cheyenne South freshman lined up for a free kick about 30 yards away from the goal after teammate Heather Amen was fouled. It was eight minutes into the second half and the Lady Bison were down 3-0 to to Laramie, the state’s No. 1 team.

South coach Phil McGovern gave Landon the green light to fire away if she felt the shot was there.

Landon did. And the rest, as they say, is history.

The goal took the entire Laramie defense by surprise as no one moved when the ball left her foot. It settled into the back of the net well away from ever being stopped and the Bison cut the deficit to 3-1. They would go on to fall 6-1.

“Coach always tells to aim far side and that’s pretty much what I did – high or far side and it just ended up going in,” Landon said. Continue reading →

South’s Colbert gets two wins in two different ways

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Alex Riley

Cheyenne South’s Josiah Colbert paces himself during the 3,200-meter run at the Okie Invite on Friday. Miranda Grubbs/staff

CHEYENNE — Josiah Colbert’s first race of the day was a test of will.

His second race was hardly a test at all.

The Cheyenne South senior got dug deep in the 1,600-meter run, coming from behind to beat Cheyenne East’s Michael Kesy. In the 3,200-meter run, he ended up lapping a few of his competitors and winning easily.

Two wins by two very different results.

“(The 3,200 was) easier in one respect, hard in another,” Colbert said.

“Running alone is not fun. I would have like somebody to be there to push me a little bit harder, get a little bit more intensity but it was a good race.” Continue reading →

East’s defense finds its groove against Central, gets a good start

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Alex Riley

Cheyenne East's Skylar Hatanelas puts defensive pressure on Central's Halee Moore during Friday's game. Hatanelas' play was a surprise that help lift the Lady Indians. Michael Smith/staff

Cheyenne East’s Skylar Hatanelas puts defensive pressure on Central’s Halee Moore during Friday’s game. Michael Smith/staff

CHEYENNE — How’s this for a challenge — open the 2013 regular season against your rival who just happens to be the defending Class 4A state champion.

For the Cheyenne East girls soccer team, that was the starting point for the year.

The Lady Thunderbirds responded by forcing a 1-1 overtime tie with Cheyenne Central. Not a bad start to the season for a team that missed the state tournament last fall.

“We definitely needed a push to get us going,” East senior McKenna Horsley said.

That push might’ve arrived on Friday night. Continue reading →

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